Another successful weekend in the North-East (when isn’t it), though again I failed to drop in and catch the estimable Landlady and Landlord of your favourite Durham micro.
My tick was in Crook, which you’ll remember from that time I was filling the Lockdown with posts about Amateur Cup Finals, at which Crook Town were legendary.
The ascent through Bishop Auckland was rather beautiful, and Bishop itself looked worth a revisit now that dreadful sounding “Kynren” isn’t polluting Durham with its Arthurian nonsense. Promote your pubs, Bishop !
The Copper Mine had plagued (sorry) my ticking return, taking its time to reopen and then seemingly requiring a booking in advance. On the journey Google Maps Lady loudly told me it was closed, which worried me.
So I booked. “Table for retiredmartin, just for a quick half, near a plant pot please”.
I was expecting something a little grander, but “Bar & Eatery” was the giveaway.
As are the photos on Trip Advisor;
Two pashmina’s ladies wearing face masks actually beat me in, the scamps, and I sensed they were delighted to be making their first pub visit for many months. It was my 105th since the 4th July, and my 3rd hearing of Queen’s “Somebody to Love“, but not the last.
I know some of you think I resent these gastropubs cluttering up the GBG, but I love the variety they give the Guide, and they provide essential trade for the homebrewers of lovely Allendale. By the by, you MUST visit Allendale.
“Are you the gentleman who called to book a plant pot”
“I am”
She took my temperature and my details, and I told her how great it was the pub was re-open, albeit Friday to Sunday only.
“You can sit where you like” she said, signalling to an area well away from the diners. It’s not bench seating, but I’ve seen worse.
The Wagtail was a mere £2.80 a pint, and rather tastier than you’d expect, an easy NBSS 3, so well done Durham GBG selection committee.
And they were doing well, as the wall behind the urinals confirmed.
Whether Friday to Sunday opening constitutes a pub is a different matter, but I guess that’s where Crook’s Spoons comes into its own.
retiredmartin 
Got a chuckle out of the “Nobody Gets Out Sober” sign. Except for you of course if you were just doing a half. Then again, depends on how many you already had that day…
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Dan,
Yes, but there’s no longer a chuckle when you’ve seen it in the dozenth pub
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You get a commission for the Huawei ads in the photos?
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I can’t claim to speak for Martin, but I have deliberately left the “watermark” on in my own blog photos. That way it identifies them as mine – unless someone else is using the same camera-phone, of course.
Sadly no commission though!
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I’m actually curious. Is that a unique watermark?
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Don’t think so. Just identifies the camera, and the fact the idiot photographer (not in Paul’s case) has sat on the phone again.
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It’s actually an advert for the new Chinese Covid vaccine.
We get to be the first people to receive the vaccine, which is taken aurally in a pint of Doom Bar. Don’t blame me if folk refuse to take the vaccine.
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Oh, it would be good if Paul B DID speak for me. I think he’d make a good official spokesman, bit like Comical Ali.
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T’other Paul,
But don’t people then just trim off the bottom bit before copying it uncredited ?
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Please wait here it says on the hazy floor, what for? I ask.
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Just wait.
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Why are you waiting there?
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“and catch the estimable Landlady and Landlord of your favourite Durham micro.”
I have a favourite micro?
“which you’ll remember from that time I was filling the Lockdown with posts about Amateur Cup Finals,”
Sorry; I was really locked down during your lockdown.*
* Where I live it wasn’t a lockdown as such. I drove our lunch truck every day (still am); the DIY and garden centres were open, as well as grocery and pharmacies. Heck, the places we serve with our truck were all basically still operating. Some with reduced staff for a few weeks but still open. That includes a car dealership, a boat storage/parts/maintenance place, a heavy duty repair shop and as well as a commercial fishnet repair place and a scrap metal recycle place.
“Table for retiredmartin, just for a quick half, near a plant pot please”.
(snicker)
“and my 3rd hearing of Queen’s “Somebody to Love“,”
We actually watched their movie twice in the past few months. It’s quite good (Elton’s was ok, but not as good).
“Queue for the pomegranate hand wash”
Can you skip right by that? I do at the grocery and pharmacy stores. My hands are wrinkled enough with the bloody washing!
“By the by, you MUST visit Allendale.”
I’ll think about it.
“She took my temperature”
No wonder. Pretty sure she thought you were feverish to begin with if you booked a plant pot! 😉
“Hazy”
And not a plant pot in sight!
“as the wall behind the urinals confirmed.”
Is that some sort of fish above all of the ‘great to be back’ remarks?
“Whether Friday to Sunday opening constitutes a pub is a different matter”
Pretending to be a micro were they?
Cheers
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Your house is a micro, Russ.
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I need to ask: why the plantpot? Is it to dispose of your beer if you don’t like it? Or to avoid the bathroom?
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Disposal of warm beer, Jane. It’s a running prop on the blog, bit like your chips and gravy fetish (bad analogy). 😉
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By warm do you mean not chilled? Or actually warm (which sounds gross, like tepid tea).
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That would be an ecumenical matter, Jane !
I prefer my beer to taste like it’s come from a cellar, rather than behind a busy bar. I guess 11-12 degrees rather than the13 you get. Freshness, or lack of it when beer sits around for 3+ days is a worse problem. Blackpool seems to have no problem serving a cool pint but many country pubs do.
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It’s the sea breeze what keeps it cool.
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You may have something there…
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Due to new covid-secure procedures, customers are reminded that those wishing to avail themselves of the facilities must bring their own pot plant.
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Which must be disinfected between uses on pub crawls.
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That’s the winner so far.
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So now that beer ranges are unchanging, nice to see jam jars repurposed as tip jars. Although having two next to each other does seem a little hopeful.
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